Connecting With Others – Technology
Technology, when it comes to communication, is one of the best representations of the duality our actions can have. On the one hand, it gives us experience. On the other hand, keeping us from experience brings serious danger. So, connecting with others becomes easier and more difficult at the same time.
Social networks, for example, allow us to take what we have closer. We can be in touch with people who are thousands of miles away in the time it takes to blink. In addition, we can see what places they usually visit, what they like, what their hobbies are or how their social circle develops.
The danger of this arises when what happens behind the screen acts as a substitute for traditional forms of communication. Connecting to others is much more than just “liking” a post. Talking face to face involves a large amount of nuances that are lost in ” WhatsApp “. Images rarely have the ability to reflect a complete reality. At least as completely as we can capture in person.
We risk becoming addicted to social networks, of forgetting to connect with people through gaze and movement. We also interpret non-verbal language in pictures. Sometimes these images depict us when we do not want to show the world how we feel. The key is to get the most out of new technology, but not to rely on it completely.
Connected because we need it, or because we want to?
We define our lives by uploading our lives daily on social networks. Often an experience is not valid if it is not “published” on social media. It is not enough to live and enjoy an event. We need others to know about it and be able to participate as well.
A study from the universities of Wisconsin, Haverford, Northwestern and Toronto found that couples who uploaded multiple posts on social networks were the most unhappy.
In general, it can be said that those who need the most external recognition (likes, visits to their profile, etc.) are also the ones who are most empty inside. A person with good self-esteem will not need others to give their validation on photos or trips, partner or friends. They will only use social networks to connect with friends and acquaintances from time to time, but never out of necessity.
Do not forget that talking or having a conversation involves more than keeping your eyes on a screen or writing messages. It is also not the same to look at pictures as to look at the real landscapes. To “like” something does not mean to express an opinion, it just means that I am here and I follow you.
The camera in our memory is much better than the one on the phone
The real essence of our daily life is recorded in our memory and it is not good to reduce its value to a picture from a smartphone. A single moment can hide an emotional moment that we can lose if the only thing we use to see it is a camera.
You should sacrifice the phone for a while (nothing will happen if you leave it at home only once). Take time for a coffee, social events, to travel and embrace, smile, hold hands and live in real life.
It is true that it may not be just us. It seems that most people have taken a stand on digital communication versus face-to-face communication. Being able to hang out with them is practically a miracle. So, if you do not want to lose track of them, you have no choice but to go to the place where they spend most of their time – the digital world.
Real life is hidden behind social media. There is a life behind every profile. We are more than a picture or a contact. Each person is a world that is little reflected in their networks. So, connecting with others is more than being “online” at the same time. Leave your screen on and you will see what reality really has in mind for you.
